Why do people live in Australia?

The continent has most of the world's most poisonous snakes, not only on land but in the ocean. It has the world's largest crocodiles, and one can be devoured by one in or near the ocean or a river, and then out in the surf great white sharks abound. And I haven't even mentioned box jellyfish, blue ring octopi, stone fish, or the red backed and funnel spiders.

If ever a land was saying "Go away, people," it's Australia.

Add to all this that Sydney, strangely, is one of the most expensive cities on Earth and that you're so far from the United States (where everyone wants to go) and why would anyone live there, much less WANT to live there?

So, why are there people in Australia? What explains it?

Yes, and of course I'm being tongue in cheek. I'm sure there are many reasons to risk the many ways to die there.

Can't say, and I don't know that that applies to all, but the ones I've known were quite proud of the title. One Realtor I knew went all around a National Realtor's Convention, telling everyone he met, "Ah'm a CoonAss!"

So I wouldn't think the term to be derogatory - upon meeting one, however, I think I'd withhold use of the term until indicated it's OK. Just sayin' --

Actually, you're both right, technically - they came from the French who settled Canada, so indirectly, they came from France, just as many of us came from England, however reluctant we might be to confess it.

The usual reason is that the person was born there, and has not yet been bitten by one of those venemous things in or around the continent. There are, however, a bunch of people who die trying to get there by boat after paying someone their life savings. Spoils all the fun of dying when you get there.